Fire-escape.



APPLICATION FILED FEB. l2, i917.

L. R.'HENDERSON.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

WPMHSSM,

'entre' LUCY IR.. HENDERSON, OF PHOEBUS, VIRGINIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed February 12, 1917. Serial No. 148,198.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LUCY R. HENDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Phoebus, inthe county of Elizabeth City, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I d0 hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the'invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and efficient device which is adapted for attachment to a window ledge for the purpose of securing one end of a rope which is to belowered out of the window.

Another object is to provide an improved construction of device of this character which can be readily adjusted to apply to window ledges of different heights from the floor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for attachment of a life saving rope line on a burning building which will hold the end of the rope from chafing or cutting.

Another object 0f the present invention is to provide a device which is adapted to be attached to the face of a building to provide a ladder to permit persons to escape from the building in case of fire.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which is adapted to be attached to the window ledges, and to extend from one window to the next above or below, a number of the sections being used so as to produce a continuous ladder, the rope being held while descending the ladder.

Other Objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the rope holding device attached to a window ledge and floor, and a rope attached to the same.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rope holding device, and the ladder, the window ledge and door, as well as a portion of the wall being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the rope holding device removed from the window.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a portion of a building showing the arrangement of the ladder sections.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred form of my invention, 10 represents a portion of a window ledge, and 11 a portion Vof the floor of a building with which my improved re escape is particularly adapted for use.

The device consists of a lower vertical hollow standard 12, the lower end of which is formed with a horizontally extending foot or pedestal 13, formed with openings 14: for the reception of screws 15 by means of which the same is attached to the floor beneath the window ledge. Extending laterally from opposite sides of the upper end of the standard are loops 16, the purpose of which will be later set forth.

A second member 17 is formed with an angularly extending upper end 18 formed with Openings 19 for the reception of screws 2O whereby the same is adapted for attachment to the window ledge. The lower portion of the member 17 is disposed for slidable adjustment in the hollow standard 12, the attachment of the members to the ledge and floor holding the parts in proper adjusted positions.

In using the device, one end of a rope is passed through one of the loops 16, around the hollow standard and then through the other loop, where said rope is properly tied; The other end of the rope is then dropped out of the window so that the person can descend thereon from the burning building.

It is the intention to attach one of these devices to each window of a lbuilding so that it will, at all times, be within convenient reach in case of fire, it being, of course, understood that a rope is provided in the room for this emergency. The device is especially adapted for use in hotels, ofiice buildings, apartment houses, or like buildings where large numbers of people are employed or reside.

The ladder includes a body portion formed of metal of suitable thickness and of a length to reach from the window ledge of one window to the top of the window of the story below, this body portion being represented by the reference character 21. On each side of the longer edges of the body of the strip are formed upwardly and outwardly inclined lugs 22, which form the steps or rungs of the ladder, the lugs on one side being arranged in staggered relation to those of the other side. The upper end of the strip is bent at right angles to lie across the window sill and ledge, as shown at 23, the extremity of the said end being bent downwardly, as at 24, and secured to the inner portion of the window ledge, or stool of the window. The lower end of the strip is similarly formed with a Z-shaped portion 25, the foot of which is secured to the face of the building below the window sill, and above the window of the story below. An L-shaped portion 27 is carried by the upper portion of the strip for attachment to the building directly below the window ledge.

By providing a number of these sections, extending from window to window, and between the stories, there can thus be produced a continuous ladder from the top story or from the roof of the building, to the ground, by means of which the persons can readily descend in case 0f fire, it being understood that the rope is heldin the hands while descending the ladder to balance the persons.

vWhat is claimed is:

A lire escape comprisingl a vertical hollow standard having a horizontal footv for attachment to a Hoor beneath the window of a building, a depending stein having its upper end formed with a transverse T-head for attachment to the window ledge and its other end slidably disposed in the hollow standard, and laterally extending loops on opposite sides of the upper end of the standard for passage therethrough and around the standard of one end of a life saving rope.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

LUCY R. HENDERSON.

Witnesses:

HELEN HOWELL, RUTH HENDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente. Washington, D. C. 

